MONDAY 04/23/2012 GREEN TURTLE CLUB MARINA
We walked around the bay to the lovely Bluff House Marina (www.BluffHouse.com) for a breezy lunch on their deck that overlooks White Sound. This would make a great alternative to Green Club Marina in the future. In the afternoon we again bicycled in to New Plymouth in search of tortillas (found at Curry’s Sunset Grocery), a little dessert from McIntosh’s Bakery and a sample of the famous Goombay Smash from Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar. This mighty tasty rum punch is known all over the Abacos and in not so sickly sweet as some.
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| A LITTLE SWEETS FROM MCINTOSH BAKERY |
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| MISS EMILY'S BLUE BEE BAR |
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| A LITTLE "SMASH" AT THE BLUE BEE BAR |
On our ride back to Quest we made a detour to the sweeping Gillam Bay for a leisurely walk along the shore. A couple of guys were netting small fish to be used as bait on their next fishing expedition, sometime after these wicked winds die down.
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| GILLAM BAY |
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| NETTING BAIT FISH |
The restaurant and bar was like a bee hive tonight, filled with people delighted to be out and about without getting drenched. Once again, we have found that the local staff is most accommodating and delightfully cheerful. Reene, the hostess had us charmed with her quick wit and Debbie, the bartender, kept us coming back for her yummy cocktails and delightful demeanor. We made plans with Tom and Cheryl on S/V Cinderella to share a golf cart for some exploration and an easier ride to town.
TUESDAY 04/24 2012 GREEN TURTLE CLUB MARINA
With the winds still billowy but the skies dry, I was able to utilize the nice laundry facility at the marina and get everything clean for the upcoming trip home to the US. It was a busy place this morning as everyone is preparing to move as the storm passes on and the winds let up. Tomorrow is looking like the perfect day with more pleasant days to follow.
The golf cart proved to be a great diversion and we explored the Coco Bay area and revisited the Bluff House for an afternoon cocktail before heading into New Plymouth for Tom and Cheryl to provision up. They have been here numerous times while working as captain and steward on motor yachts and were a wealth of useful information and local knowledge.
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| CHERYL, TOM AND DAN READY TO ZIP OFF IN OUR CUTE LITTLE CART |
WEDNESDAY 04/25/2012 STARTING OFF ON THE FIRST LEG OF OUR JOURNEY BACK TO THE US
64 NM TO AN ANCHORAGE OFF GRAND CAY AND SANDY CAY
After an early breakfast at the club, completing the departure check list and paying our bill for the last four days we were off on the first leg of our trip to the Florida coast. Both Green Turtle Club and the Bluff House have a great incentive plan to entice the boaters to their doors. Your daily dockage fee can be applied to all food and beverages purchased at the restaurant and bar. So take Quest at 53’ times 1.95/foot equals $103.35 per day that can be used for food and drinks. Not such a bad deal, especially since the food is really good, the facilities splendid and the folks super nice. The docks were emptying out on this glorious day as boaters took advantage of the favorable conditions to move on.
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| QUEST'S HOME AT GREEN TURTLE CLUB |
We reached our night’s anchorage off Grand Cay around 5:30 and took our last dip of this journey in the beautiful Bahamian waters, Dan checking the anchor for purchase and both of us giving the hull a little scrubbing at the water line. We opted not to dink to the island but this is one of the preferred retreats to which President Nixon would escape for a peaceful regeneration during his tenure.
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BLESS BTC (BAHAMIAN TEL)
THERE IS DECENT PHONE SERVICE ALMOST EVERYWHERE |
THURSDAY 04/26/2012 AND WE’RE OFF!
After a blissful night’s sleep in this comfortable anchorage we were ready to begin our long journey to St. Augustine on Florida’s coastline. The weather was still most favorable and we were off. Passing Grand Cay we took the cut that would take us out of the Bahamas Banks and out into the ocean. Dan set our course and Quest was comfortable making the passage in deep waters.
During the lazy day we had a humongous sea turtle lolling off our port side in the sapphire blue waters and found a stowaway aboard just before sunset. Since we were more than 60 miles from any body of land we were perplexed by this little Bananaquit’s visit. First he showed up in the pilot house, just as chipper and unabashed as you please. Slowly I worked him out to the open stern door and slid the screen closed. Thinking this was the end of it I headed back to the pilot house to continue my watch. I filled Dan in on my adventure when he got up from his short nap and he had no problems believing me because the little guy was right there sitting in the galley. He showed no fear of us and never freaked out like most birds do when becoming entrapped in a house. Again I got him out but shut all possible reentry points to avoid a replay. I don’t know how long he stayed aboard Quest but he sat looking in the pilothouse window for quite some time, wandered up to check out the anchor pulpit and strolled down the side handrails.
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| OUR CURIOUS BANANAQUIT STOWAWAY |
FRIDAY 04/27/2012 HELLO USA!
223 NM TRAVELED FROM GRAND CAY TO ST. AUGUSTINE MOORING FIELD
Around midnight our predicted pristine weather took a major leap to the “dark side” with winds abruptly soaring into the 20s from the west, some gusts near 30. Dan fought it for a while then made the smart choice to alter Quest’s course and headed towards New Smyrna on Florida’s eastern coast. Once we got a little closer to shore the winds and smacking waves drastically let up and we again turned north towards St. Augustine, enjoying the return of tranquil conditions.
By 1:30 we had made it through the St. Augustine Cut and picked up a mooring ball in the Salt Run Mooring Field. After calling the Department of Homeland Security to report our arrival back in to the USA, we received clearance from Customs and Immigration over the phone and did not have to report in. Our membership in the SVRS (small vessel reporting system) made this so easy!
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| THE LIGHTHOUSE RIGHT OFF OUR ANCHORAGE IN SALT RUN |
Chores done, we were able to make calls, once again, to family and friends without the terrifying threat of unmerciful charges. We didn’t even take the tender over to the lovely town of St. Augustine but, instead, opted for dinner overlooking Salt Run at the Conch House then made it an early night in an attempt to catch up with the previous night’s lack of sleep.
SATURDAY 04/28/2012 LOOK OUT JACKSONVILLE, HERE WE COME!
50 NM
This morning Quest exited the St. Augustine Cut and made the day’s run on the outside instead of taking the ICW to Jacksonville. There was a mass exodus as sailboats, yacht and weekend fishermen took advantage of the calm seas. We saw several large fishing trawlers at work with their massive wings spread and their nets sifting the waters.
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SHRIMP TRAWLER CRUISING THE WATERS NEAR THE J
ST. JOHNS RIVER INLET TO JACKSONVILLE |
Entering the Jacksonville Cut was reminiscent of merging onto a freeway. Boaters were zipping in and out, small fishing boats congregating around the breakwater to cast their lines, ferries following their coarse, military ships docked, dredges digging up the ever present silt, tugs assisting ships and barges in the channel and a mass of folks enjoying the balmy day at the beach. Whew! It’s a lot for this nosy girl to take in!
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| FERRY TRAFFIC HAS THE "RIGHT OF WAY" |
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| THE MILITARY PRESENCE |
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| THERE IS ALWAYS DREDGE WORK NEEDED TO KEEP THE CHANNELS OPEN |
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| THE TUGS KEEP EVERYTHING RUNNING SMOOTHLY |
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| MILITARY DRY DOCK |
Meandering up the busy St. Johns River we passed the Mayport Naval Air Station, the Coast Guard Station, bustling shipyards with boat in dry docks for maintenance and repairs, huge car haulers unloading their precious cargo and a few dolphin vying for our attention.
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| A LITTLE LUXURY IN DRY DOCK |
Our Newfoundland friends on S/V Whisper were on the dock at free Jacksonville Landing to grab our lines and dole out welcome hugs. The last time we saw Vic and Marilyn was just before going to Miami for our run to Bimini. They spent the winter in Cuba and had many stories to tell.
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| MARILYN AND VIC WERE A WELCOME SIGHT ON SHORE |
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| WHISPER BACK FROM CUBA |
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| DAN AND VIC GETTING A BREW |
The Jacksonville Landing had a constant turnover of young dancers performing on their stage all day long and we cheered and clapped for them all. Marilyn and Vic had gotten tickets at the adjacent Jacoby Symphony Hall for Cirque de La Symphonie and we spent the evening being awed by the circus like performers and the magnificent symphony orchestra. Thanks to Vic and Marilyn for making the arrangements!!
04/29/2012 SUNDAY IN JACKSONVILLE LANDING
This morning brought a thorough rinse down of the salty Quest and then a stroll around town before meeting Marilyn and Vic for a leisurely ride around in the con-Quest. I had no idea of the massiveness of the mighty river that rushes past Jacksonville. Once under the train bridge the current dies down and the river opens up into a warren of lakes and rivers lined with beautiful homes as well as private clubs. What an perfectly divine afternoon spent relaxing with friends and seeing new sights.
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